Semarang (10/27) — The Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIP) at Universitas Diponegoro (Undip) continues to strengthen its international academic network through innovative educational collaborations. One of its latest milestones is the official launch of the Double Degree Program between the International Undergraduate Program (IUP) in Communication Science and the Bachelor of Communication and Arts at The University of Queensland (UQ), Australia. This initiative marks a significant step toward enhancing cross-border academic cooperation, fostering opportunities for students to gain diverse global perspectives, and promoting knowledge exchange between higher education institutions.
The launching ceremony was held on Monday, October 27, 2025, at the Theater Room, Building C, 1st Floor, FISIP Undip Campus, Tembalang. Representatives from The University of Queensland who attended the event included Prof. Heather Zwicker, Dean of the Faculty of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS); Ms. Majella Ferguson, Senior Manager of the International Office of HASS; Professor Nicholas Carah, Director of Digital Cultures and Societies; and Nadia Sarah, Indonesia Representative of The University of Queensland. The UQ delegation was warmly welcomed by Dr. Drs. Teguh Yuwono, M.Pol.Admin., Dean of FISIP Undip, along with other Faculty leaders.
In his welcoming remarks, Dr. Teguh Yuwono expressed his deep appreciation for the collaboration between Undip and UQ, emphasizing that the partnership provides vast opportunities for students to enhance their academic capacity and global competence. He conveyed his hopes that the collaboration would inspire students to keep learning and developing themselves. “I do hope the coming of many study here in FISIP will inspire us to study, that study in Australia is very nice,” he said. He further noted that the partnership should not stop at this program alone but continue to expand in the future. He concluded his speech by underlining the importance of collaboration in improving student quality: “We are happy to learn, happy to cooperate, to collaborate in order to improve my students’ capacity,” he remarked.
Meanwhile, Prof. Heather Zwicker conveyed her optimism about the partnership between the two universities, highlighting the value of international learning experiences in strengthening global understanding. “What I feel confident is that we are building opportunities for you that will serve to build your career and create better global understanding across our two countries,” she stated. She also expressed her enthusiasm for welcoming FISIP Undip students to Brisbane: “We cannot wait to have you in Brisbane. We cannot wait to have you studying here,” she added.
The official launch of the Double Degree Program was marked by the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) between FISIP Undip and the Faculty of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences, The University of Queensland. The signing ceremony symbolized a shared commitment to strengthening academic synergy and advancing the quality of international education.
Following the MoA signing, the event continued with a Visiting Professor session featuring Professor Nicholas Carah as the keynote speaker. The session was divided into two parts: the first discussed Publishing Interdisciplinary Articles in Reputable Journals, offering insights on academic publication strategies across disciplines, while the second explored Social Media, Young People, and Algorithmic Culture, which examined how algorithmic culture shapes the social lives of young people in the digital era.
The event received enthusiastic participation from both undergraduate and postgraduate Communication Science students. Through this international collaboration, FISIP Undip reaffirms its commitment to continuous innovation in global education, the expansion of international academic networks, and the preparation of students for competitive learning experiences on a global scale.
